yogaHOPE’s Teacher’s Blog

Womens Lunch Place – Womens Yoga Place!

I’ve had the pleasure of assisting twice at WLP and each time felt so welcome and appreciated, even as a new face. This class seems to be consistently full with plenty of regular students and the women are so much stronger than I thought they would be. The Forrest style classes they with Lori and Vanessa have been empowering and strengthening. These women rise to the challenge!

I was most impressed with the way Vanessa and Lori both ‘rolled with the punches’ as children interrupted class and other women poked their heads in looking for cigarettes, etc. etc. It is a great reminder that yoga is about being in the present and embracing everything that each moment has to offer.

My favorite moment was after class when one of the women came up and in broken english said to me, “American custom!” and kissed my cheek. The others were not as forthcoming, but everyone seemed thankful for the opportunity to do yoga, and eager to get mats and blocks and keep practicing!

Hello House like its name offers new beginnings to women

Hi–I was fortunate enough to attend for my first time on Tuesday evening with Amanda at Hello House.  Seems like a really great program and as a participant–in the rear of the class—I was able to read the body language of the participants—many who were sick and congested–still I was able to detect a demeanor of calmness embrace them as they sat, breathed, and twisted their tired bodies into asana.   It was also clear how important nurturing touch is to them.   I took mental notes on how Amanda assisted during savasana and look forward to the assist workshop on March 9th. –barb blair

Yoga is reaching these women

I taught my regular Tuesday night class at yogaHOPE this past week.  I’ve had a smaller group now that the Moms have gone back to their Tuesday night Mom’s group.  I miss them, and they miss their yoga, many of them indicating they work on Saturday as well, so no yoga all week!  I’d love to offer a third class to fix that but tell them to do what they remember as often as they can (breath, postures, meditation, etc).  I listened to what was bothering them this past Tuesday (shoulders, back) and based the practice around that.  We did eagle arms in our shoulder stretching segment and one girl commented that the feeling was amazing, such a release.  It was a relaxed and gentle practice, with some challenge as we held poses, tapping into the unknown with our breath, and chatty at times as they had questions about yoga and its benefits.  It became clear the girls took what they learned on the mat into their lives and love to share it back with me.  One woman had a root canal recently on two teeth and of course she was not able to take anything other than ibuprofen (sp?) for pain since she is in recovery.  She indicated she did her yoga breathing, in and out of the nose, and she didn’t have any swelling, and she only had to take ibuprofen for two days.  She credits the yoga breathing and said she will use it when she has back surgery in 3 weeks.  Another woman who has hepatitis indicated when she is on her mat and feels the power of her own breath and how it can heal her, she truly believes it can make the hepatitis go away.  She looks at me shyly, as if this is a silly thought, and I tell her it’s not.  Once we tap into the power of our breath, miracles happen! 

Namaste,

 Amanda

hawc

Today was a bit more challenging to get class started and going as there are some changes with childcare. It took awhile to get everyone to the mat!!  The women were exceptionally  talkative today with lots of disorganized energy. I thought about how to get everyone settled and focused. Having just taken one of ana forrest’s sessions, I decided that dolphin might be a nice start.
Its hard to talk and hold that pose for very long!
I then added in some balance poses.  Children kept popping in to see what their moms were doing in yoga.  One of them joined in and did a tree pose. His mom said that when she does yoga poses in her room that he will often do them with her.  Another women came to class reluctantly. she was concerned regarding a hx of knee injury. I assured her we would modify accordingly. she was able to participate which was nice as last time she didnt come to class as a result of concerns she had about her knee.  I really enjoy teaching for yoga hope. Classes may not start or flow as a traditional class but the best part is making a class happen despite whatever else is going on in the house.    Linda  

Opening up to yoga at Women’s Hope

Thursday’s class at Women’s Hope brought women all new to yoga. I could see the excitement, hesitation and a bit of the unknown to the women’s expressions as we began with our gentle breathing. We had a small class which was a wonderful invitation to focus in on each participants practice. We moved slowly, encouraging breath and being kind to the body. Childs pose was a favorite to most. I heard women state, “I can do this” to “I love this”, and “This is fun”! The class was very light hearted and full of positive messages. Accepting where the body is at, being open, and welcoming laughter. I could see the determination in the women’s eyes when we moved from a standing warrior sequence into balancing poses. Class closed with bridge pose, meditation and a long savasana. At the end of class the women did not jump up from their mats but sat a few moments. I was taken by the expressions of peace on their faces. A few women asked, “When is the next class”?, “Is it possible to heal with yoga”?

I replied, “All is possible with yoga”. “Look what you gave yourself in one hour”.  I am humbled by the teaching and witnessing those opening to their own heart….

-Kat Larsen, RYT